Les Derniers Valois

The Last Valois
Kings of France
 
King Henri III

Coins with King Henri III's Image

For clarity, the least worn coins are displayed, not necessarily the most representative. 

There was no single mint in France at the time. Each region issued its own coins based on iconography different from other coins of the the same year, i.e. there was no standard image of the king in any given year.  Compare his father's and brother's coins.

Henri is invariably shown from the right side, while his brother Charles is shown from the opposite one.  Henri favored the right side, because - as a child -  he suffered from a nasal fistula on the left. 

Ruff Collar

  • King Henri III did not "invent" the ruff collar, for which he was so criticized, his brother Charles IX wore it on some of his coins. 

    • Grooming

  • Henri's beard is invariably shaggy on his coins, while it is meticulously manicured in his oil portraits, another item for which he was so criticized...
  • His hair, on coins, is "buzz cut", not upstanding en ratepenade, as in court portraits, another item for which he was so criticized... 

    • Mystery

  • See the 1587 demi franc where he also has some curious thing under his chin. 

    • Earrings

  • Yes, some of the coins do show his famous enormous pendeloque pear shaped pearl earring.
  • I am not certain whether he had both ears pierced, or just one, since no single portrait shows both ears simultaneously. 
  • Many portraits "from the other side" are actually in error due to flipped photographic negatives or the use of a camera obscura to replicate original images.  A Spanish ambassador remarked that he wore two earrings "like women", but it is known that he had two holes in his right ear.  This is clearly visible on some of his portraits. 
  • In any case, recall that earrings were used much differently in the 16th century.  Women barely wore them for some time before 1550, since they wore French hoods (with kokoshnik-like tiaras of velvet) that hid the ears from view.  Catherine de Medici almost never wore earrings. 

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